Deputies nab drugs, fleeing suspect

A routine traffic stop for speeding turned up 73 pounds of marijuana on Wednesday night.

Around 7 p.m., Sheriff's Deputy Christy May and her partner Ryan Mikulec stopped the driver of a Ford Escape. The driver sped on U.S. Highway 59.

Gerardo Gonzalez, 27, exited onto Highway 185 and pulled over at a business in the 3200 block of South Laurent Street.

After the Laredo resident consented to a request to search his vehicle, deputies found 73 pounds of marijuana in the trunk, they say.

Then, Gonzalez ran south across Laurent Street through a residential area.

The Victoria Police Department and the Victoria Fire Department helped deputies search for the man. After a unsuccessful hunt, law enforcement ended the search around 10:15 p.m.

At 3:25 a.m., Gonzalez returned to the scene of the crime. Subsequently, he was arrested by Deputy Will Franklin and charged with felony possession of marijuana of more than 50 pounds, but less than 2,000 pounds.

Gonzalez was also charged with evading arrest, which is a Class A misdemeanor.